Natasha Abrahart Death | Obituary – Natasha Abrahart, originally from Nottingham, took her own life on 30 April 2018.
The parents of a student who suffered from severe social anxiety and took her own life are suing Bristol University, claiming their daughter’s mental health was neglected while she was there.
The second-year physics student was diagnosed with chronic social anxiety three months before her death and was due to give an assessed presentation in front of staff and students on the day she died.
Academic staff said they knew that she ‘suffered from anxiety and panic attacks’ in relation to oral assessments. However, a senior lecturer told the inquest that ‘no changes were made’ to her assessment on 30 April.
In May 2019 Coroner Maria Voisin concluded ‘gross failures’ by the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership also contributed to her death. The partnership has apologized to Natasha’s family and said they would take on board the coroner’s recommendations.
Lawyers supporting Natasha’s family say following the inquest into her death – they are now arguing “that through a combination of negligence and disability discrimination the University contributed to a decline in Natasha’s mental state.”
“Our daughter came to Bristol seeking a better, brighter future. Instead, we lost her forever. We will never stop working to ensure that other students don’t endure the suffering she did.”
